JoAnne Prince, 20-year GM worker, installs shocks and brake lines on a 2015 Chevy Traverse at the Lansing Delta Township plant. GM will spend $520 million for tooling and equipment for future new vehicle programs, retaining 1,900 jobs.
In the run-up to the expiration of the UAW contract this August, General Motors announced today that it will invest $5.4 billion in GM plants for improvements during the next three years, but only included details of $783.5 million in spending for three Michigan facilities.
Since June 2009, GM has announced U.S. facility spending of ~$16.8 billion. About $11.4 billion of that has come since the 2011 UAW-GM National Agreement that is up for renewal, with two-tier wages a major potential point of contention. In total, GM said these investments have created 3,650 new jobs and in the dreary language of the shrinking number of UAW represented workers “secured the positions of approximately 20,700 others.”
At the Pontiac Metal Center where the announcement was made GM North America President Alan Batey said $124 million will be invested. There is also $520 million for tooling and equipment for future new vehicle programs at the Lansing Delta Township assembly plant, retaining 1,900 jobs, and $139.5 million for a new body shop and stamping facility upgrades at Pre-Production Operations in Warren.
GM will announce the remaining $4.6 billion and identify plants involved over the next several months.
